Description:English delft circular salver or stand with blue chinoiserie decoration. Salver is the 18th century term for this type of flat serving dish that was first made in silver in England around 1661; silver examples of less than 9" in diameter are often called waiters. The cheaper delft versions were produced from around 1685 onward; the earliest tripod silver salvers date to about 1715. The shape of this salver is the most common form; the decoration, which is normally in blue chinoiserie landscape, varies. Although they have been called teapot stands, it is more likely that they were used for other purposes such as a tray for a wine glass or mug, or a trivet for a hot vessel. The stand is a shallow plate on three attached legs, which have been either molded or cut-out in a scrollwork design with a punch-like cutter, with bun feet. There is a central reserve surrounded by six reserves, each with the same chinoiserie scene of a building with a diamond-shaped roof, fence, and mimosa trees. The painted dark blue background stand imitates Chinese powdered ground porcelains. The powdered ground technique, known as "chui qing", developed in China during the Kangxi period of the Qing dynasty (1662-1722). Chui qing decoration involved masking the reserved panels and blowing powdered enamel through a tube closed at one end with gauze. The bottom of the feet are painted blue, with a stylized scroll design on the scroll knees. There is a narrow blue band around the lower base, followed by narrow and thick blue bands just under the top. According to Jonathan Horne, 1/23/95, the stand was used as a salver for a wine glass, and definitely London in origin. Recent research indicates that stands such as this were trays used for serving individual cups or glasses rather than, as traditionally thought, supporting teapots. This is based in part on the fact that although very few delftware teapots have decoration matching that on stands, matching cups and stands are known. Early prints provide evidence that trays of this general shape sometimes were employed to serve cups filled with hot beverages. Typically, most delftware stands have upper surfaces which are flat with low angled rims, and most are supported on multiple bracket-like feet with simple scrolled "ears" at the top.